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I’m so glad Joyce is back with the Hodgepodge!!! I won’t waste time, so let’s get to the questions!

1. As August draws to a close, share what’s been your favorite weekend of the entire summer?

Honestly, the entire summer was fabulous…especially because I didn’t have to work! I remember one weekend when the Mr. and I spent two days straight shopping and really living life in the moment without a lot of planning. That’s not the norm for us, so it was quite enjoyable!

2. Labor Day is marked in the US of A on Monday, September 1st. What paying job have you held that you’ve loved the most? Liked the least?

Although I am very overwhelmed and stressed right now, I’d say my current profession, teaching, is my favorite job that I’ve had over the years.

My least favorite was a short-term job delivering phone books. It was miserable and not worth the couple hundred dollars i earned delivering phone books in the middle of the summer in South Florida…horrid!

3. Does the new school year start before or after Labor Day where you live? When do you think it should begin? There is much discussion now about older students having later start times to their school day…your thoughts?

Schools in Florida always begin before Labor Day. We are currently in our second week. I’m happy with the timing.

Over the last two or three years, my school district has instituted later start times for high school (I teach at a high school) with the philosophy that older teenagers need to sleep in because of the jobs they work late into the night and their circadian rhythms. Personally, I don’t like the later start time because we get out later. Ugh. I don’t know if the kids are doing better with the new time. We shall see.

4. What’s something you’ve worked at recently that could be deemed a ‘labor of love’?

I think that getting my classroom ready for the new school year has been my biggest “labor of love.” My students have walked in eager to begin reading books from my extensive classroom library. Creating a space that is warm and inviting is very important to me so that my students will be comfortable and will trust me to have their best interests at heart.

5. Which of the following work idioms can you most relate to right now…’A woman’s work is never done.’, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ ‘Many hands make light work.‘

I’d say that all work and no play makes AuburnChick a dull girl.

This is my life right now. My teaching responsibilities consume me for most of the year because I don’t want to let my kiddos down. It’s difficult for me to break away and relax…something I’m trying but not consistently successful at.

6. Crab or lobster or thanks, but no thanks? Favorite way to have your choice prepared?

In my meat-eating days, I had no preference and didn’t really care how they were prepared. Now that I am a vegan, I forgo these critters.

7. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, ‘Three rules of work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.’ Which of the three do you consider to be the most important? Share one of your own ‘rules of work’.

I think that the last part, “in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity” is the most important part of Einstein’s quote. I think we need to look for opportunities to grow even when a job is difficult. We can grow professionally and personally if we allow ourselves to be challenged and not become discouraged.

My personal rule of work is do it right the first time or at least try your best. I despise shoddy work and wonder why people even put forth the effort if they are going to allow crap work to represent them.

8. My Random Thought

In honor of yesterday’s National Dog Day, I thought I would share pictures of my fur babies…

Gambit barely humored me in this selfie photo…

He quickly forgave me though…

Pele and Molly were unwilling participants to my selfie madness…

Never far from my thoughts…my sweet Aubie. Thinking of her still brings a watershed of tears. We lost her fifteen months ago, and it still feels like yesterday. I pray the Lord allows dogs into heaven.

You are so pretty! And your doggies are quite the lovey dovey bunch, huh? I feel about our Molly the way you do about Aubie. She’s been gone 3 years and I still mis her. I remember being consumed with teaching responsibilities. Some of the stress was self-induced because I had higher expectations of myself and just plain loved doing my best in a job I loved. Kids can’t help but catch our enthusiasm.

Oh, the balancing act of teaching, grading, prepping, and then coming home to a household of responsibilities! hang in there – and kudos to your district for taking later start times for teens… yes it makes for a long day, but I really do think it is better for them… Have a great day!